In anticipation of the upcoming “No Kings” rally in St. Paul, Bruce Springsteen has spoken out in defense of his firm political views against ICE and former President Trump. The rally, set for this weekend, is part of a broader movement that Springsteen believes is crucial in today’s climate.
Speaking with The Minnesota Star Tribune on Wednesday, Springsteen expressed the significance of the No Kings movement, stating, “You want to try to meet the moment. When you have the chance to sing something timely and powerful, it elevates the moment and your performance to another level. I’m always in search of that.”
This rally will also mark the beginning of Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour,” which kicks off on March 31 in Minneapolis. The tour coincides with the release of his latest song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” a protest anthem challenging the Trump administration’s enforcement actions, including the deployment of federal agents to address illegal immigration in Minnesota.
Despite facing criticism for his politically charged music, Springsteen remains steadfast. He quoted his friend and fellow musician Tom Morello, noting, “Nuance is wonderful, and sometimes you have to kick them in the teeth.”
Springsteen maintains a straightforward approach to his artistry, saying, “I don’t worry about it. My job is very simple: I do what I want to do, I say what I want to say and then people get to say what they want to say about it.”
He remains unfazed by potential backlash, emphasizing, “Those are the rules of my game. That’s fine with me. I don’t worry about if you’re going to lose this part of your audience. I’ve always had a feeling about the position we play culturally, and I’m still deeply committed to that idea of the band. The blowback is just part of it. I’m ready for all that.”
He emphasized the “critical moment” America is facing when asked whether his demonstrations are now “more important than ever.”
“I don’t know of another time when the country has been as critically challenged and our basic ideas and values as critically challenged as they are right now,” Springsteen said. “I’d have to go back to 1968 when I was 18 years old to another moment when it felt like the country was so on edge and like it felt there was simply so much at stake as far as who we are and the country we want to be and the people we want to be. It’s a critical, critical moment.”
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Fox News Digital reached out to Springsteen’s publicist for comment.
Springsteen has been openly disparaging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after the death of Renee Good in January. He even insisted they “get the f— out of Minneapolis” during a concert in the city earlier this year.
“If you believe in democracy, in liberty, if you believe that truth still matters, that it’s worth speaking out, that it is worth fighting for, if you believe in the power of the law and no one stands above it, if you stand against heavily armed masked federal troops invading American cities and using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens, if you believe you don’t deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest, then send a message to this president,” Springsteen told a crowd.
“And as the mayor of that city has said, ‘ICE should get the f— out of Minneapolis.’”
